Question
My child has been telling me they’ve been feeling unwell lately. When I took them to the hospital for a check-up, it turned out they have low white blood cells. The doctor said this condition requires treatment. What should I do when a child has low white blood cells?
Answer
The common causes of low white blood cell counts include viral infections, colds, and sometimes medication. If the low white blood cell count is caused by medication, it is important to stop taking the medication immediately and appropriately apply medications to increase white blood cells. Leukopenia refers to a group of symptoms caused by a persistent decrease in peripheral white blood cell count, characterized by dizziness, fatigue, limb weakness, decreased appetite, listlessness, and low fever. It falls under the category of ‘deficiency’ in traditional Chinese medicine. Treatment for leukopenia in traditional Chinese medicine involves methods such as boosting Qi and nourishing blood, replenishing kidney and essence, and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Those with leukopenia should also avoid eating foods like raw carrots, carrot tops, bamboo shoots, bitter melon, and tangerines that consume Qi and harm the body.